$124 Cheap Flights from Orange County (SNA) to Des Moines (DSM)

View $124 flight on Thu, Oct 16, 2025Opens in a new window

Popular airlines from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

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Cheap Flights from Orange County to Des Moines (SNA-DSM)

Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $124 for one-way flights and $238 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

Frontier Airlines
Sat, Aug 30 - Thu, Sep 4
SNA
Orange County
DSM
Des Moines
$238 Roundtrip, found 1 hour ago
$238
Roundtrip
found 1 hour ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Sat, Aug 30 from Orange County to Des Moines, returning Thu, Sep 4, priced at $238 found 1 hour ago
Frontier Airlines
Thu, Aug 28 - Thu, Sep 4
SNA
Orange County
DSM
Des Moines
$248 Roundtrip, found 1 hour ago
$248
Roundtrip
found 1 hour ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Thu, Aug 28 from Orange County to Des Moines, returning Thu, Sep 4, priced at $248 found 1 hour ago
Frontier Airlines
Sat, Aug 30 - Sun, Sep 7
SNA
Orange County
DSM
Des Moines
$268 Roundtrip, found 1 hour ago
$268
Roundtrip
found 1 hour ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Sat, Aug 30 from Orange County to Des Moines, returning Sun, Sep 7, priced at $268 found 1 hour ago
Frontier Airlines
Sun, Aug 31 - Thu, Sep 4
SNA
Orange County
DSM
Des Moines
$278 Roundtrip, found 1 hour ago
$278
Roundtrip
found 1 hour ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Sun, Aug 31 from Orange County to Des Moines, returning Thu, Sep 4, priced at $278 found 1 hour ago
United
Tue, Oct 7 - Sat, Oct 11
SNA
Orange County
DSM
Des Moines
$289 Roundtrip, found 6 days ago
$289
Roundtrip
found 6 days ago
Select United flight, departing Tue, Oct 7 from Orange County to Des Moines, returning Sat, Oct 11, priced at $289 found 6 days ago
Southwest Airlines
Fri, Nov 14 - Wed, Nov 19
SNA
Orange County
DSM
Des Moines
$290 Roundtrip, found 2 days ago
$290
Roundtrip
found 2 days ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Fri, Nov 14 from Orange County to Des Moines, returning Wed, Nov 19, priced at $290 found 2 days ago
Southwest Airlines
Tue, Sep 9 - Tue, Sep 16
SNA
Orange County
DSM
Des Moines
$297 Roundtrip, found 15 hours ago
$297
Roundtrip
found 15 hours ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Tue, Sep 9 from Orange County to Des Moines, returning Tue, Sep 16, priced at $297 found 15 hours ago
United
Thu, Aug 21 - Tue, Aug 26
SNA
Orange County
DSM
Des Moines
$297 Roundtrip, found 4 hours ago
$297
Roundtrip
found 4 hours ago
Select United flight, departing Thu, Aug 21 from Orange County to Des Moines, returning Tue, Aug 26, priced at $297 found 4 hours ago
Delta
Wed, Sep 10 - Mon, Sep 15
SNA
Orange County
DSM
Des Moines
$297 Roundtrip, just found
$297
Roundtrip
just found
Select Delta flight, departing Wed, Sep 10 from Orange County to Des Moines, returning Mon, Sep 15, priced at $297 just found
American Airlines
Thu, Sep 11 - Tue, Sep 16
SNA
Orange County
DSM
Des Moines
$297 Roundtrip, just found
$297
Roundtrip
just found
Select American Airlines flight, departing Thu, Sep 11 from Orange County to Des Moines, returning Tue, Sep 16, priced at $297 just found

Find the cheapest month to fly from Santa Ana (SNA) to Des Moines (DSM)

August is typically the cheapest month to fly

From $247 - $967 per traveler.

Graph displaying average flight prices per month

Alternative airports near Des Moines

Prices were available within the past 7 days. Prices and availability are subject to change.

Select flight to Des Moines Intl. DSM. Cheapest and Closest option available. Average driving time to city center is 10 minutes. Flights from $402
DSM
Des Moines Intl.
CheapestClosest
Average driving time to city center10 min
Flights from $402
Flights from Orange County (SNA) to Des Moines (DSM)
Origin airport
John Wayne
Destination airport
Des Moines Intl.
Airlines serving
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United
Roundtrip price
$238
Distance
1425 mi
Average flight time
3 hours 18 mins

Orange County to Des Moines Flights

The cheapest times to fly from Orange County to Des Moines

On average, Thursday can be the cheapest time to fly, according to data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), one of the world's biggest databases for global airline sales. The data reveals that you could save up to 16% by flying on a Thursday—the cheapest day to travel on average—instead of a Sunday—the most expensive. Some of the most affordable flights from Orange County to Des Moines are during the month of August. You can find some of the cheapest flights from Orange County to Des Moines with Expedia's search tool and vast selection of airlines.

 

The best time to book a flight from Orange County to Des Moines

Sunday is one of the best days to book for cheap flights from Orange County to Des Moines: Tickets reserved on a Sunday cost between 6% and 13% less than those reserved on a Friday, according to ARC data. The data also suggests booking early can also lead to cheaper airfares. You could save 24% by buying your tickets for domestic flights at least a month in advance and 10% by booking international flights 2 months in advance.

 

How to find cheap round-trip tickets from Orange County to Des Moines

Being flexible with your dates and using Expedia's Price Drop Protection and Price Tracking features are some of the best ways of finding a cheap ticket from Orange County to Des Moines in 2025. You can also book with separate airlines for your outbound and return journeys, from $124 one-way. Expedia also offers Price Drop Protection, so if the cost of your airfare goes down after booking, you'll receive a credit for the difference*. This is available for a small fee, and is free to One Key Gold and Platinum tier members.

 

Expedia's Price Tracking feature means you can stay on top of airfares without manually checking every day. It sends you automated price alerts for cheap Orange County to Des Moines flights and uses historical data to indicate when the best time to book is. Download Expedia's free app to activate this handy tool in a few easy taps.

 

You could also save big by booking one of Expedia's vacation packages. Bundling together your Orange County to Des Moines airfare with your accommodations and car rental is often cheaper than booking everything separately. There’s also One Key, Expedia's generous rewards program. Join for free and you could earn One Key cash on most bookings to save on future adventures.

 

*Terms apply.

 

Disclaimer: ARC The statistics are based on average round-trip ticket prices between January and August 2023. The percentages you see are averages.

 

Frequently asked questions

How much does a flight from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) cost?
Discover the latest flight deals from SNA to DSM by entering your preferred travel dates and searching on Expedia. Easily compare prices by departure date if you have flexibility with your schedule and use handy filters to explore prices for your preferred journey. As a member of One Key™, our free loyalty program, you can use Price Tracking to watch fares and receive notifications if prices go up or down.
What is the cheapest month to fly from SNA to DSM?
The cheapest flights from SNA to DSM are usually during off-peak season, when demand is lower. To save money, avoid flying during public holidays, school breaks and major local events.
What is the cheapest airline that flies from SNA to DSM?
Use the filter tool on Expedia to compare airlines and find the cheapest carrier that'll take you from SNA to DSM. Sort your results by "Price (lowest to highest)" to snap up a great deal.
How many flights per day from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM)?
On average, John Wayne Airport (SNA) offers 2 direct flights to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) weekly. For more choice, take advantage of Expedia's filter tool to look for flights with layovers. Squeeze in a quick visit to another location or simply break up your trip.
What are the most popular departure times for flights from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM)?
The 9 AM departures from SNA to DSM are typically the busiest. They can also be more expensive. If you want to save on your fare, pick a less crowded time to fly.
What day of the week has the most flights from SNA to DSM?
If you jet off on a Thursday, you'll get the widest range of options for flights from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM).
What is the earliest flight from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM)?
The earliest flight leaving John Wayne Airport (SNA) is at around 9:15AM UTC-8. Hop on this flight and you'll reach Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) at approximately 2:45PM UTC-6. The total time in the air is 3h 30m.
How long does it take to fly from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM)?
The average flight duration from SNA to DSM is 3 hours and 30 minutes, covering a distance of 1,450 mi.
What is the best time to fly from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM)?
To arrive at Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) without delays, pick a flight that leaves John Wayne Airport (SNA) before 3 PM. The chance of cancellations is 22% higher, on average, for departures after this time.**Most reliable time of the day and month to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2024 flight status data sourced from OAG's global flight data platform.
What airports do you fly into for Des Moines from John Wayne Airport (SNA)?
Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) is the only airport in Des Moines with direct flights from John Wayne Airport (SNA). Browse the options and discover cheap fares on Expedia.
Is it cheaper to buy a plane ticket from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) last-minute?
Last-minute fares from SNA to DSM are typically more expensive. To lock in the best rates, start searching for flights as soon as possible. That being said, if you're flexible with your travel plans, you may land a cheap fare just before your departure.
Is it cheaper to book a SNA to DSM flight and hotel package?
Compared with arranging flights and hotels separately, booking a SNA to DSM flight and hotel package with Expedia could result in significant savings. Better still, having everything in one easy place will take the hassle out of planning your trip. Just secure your flights and choose from our wide range of hotels, then personalize your trip with other add-ons like car rentals and activities.
Can I cancel or change the date of my flight from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM)?
Generally, it's possible to reschedule or cancel your SNA to DSM flight. However, if it's been more than 24 hours since booking, additional fees may apply. Refer to your airline's policies in your itinerary to see what changes are allowed and whether any costs are involved. You'll also find further details on our Customer Service portal.

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*Available to One Key members.